Play to Win, Episode 2
Continued from Episode 1, released November 28th? on this same platform, which left our protagonist poised to re-release himself onto the tennis hobby circuit with a whole new tool set.? Welcome to the Season Finale!
Since the beginning of November, I’ve been re-introduced to the tennis court. Doing my best to nudge my game towards the modern way of playing and I’ve admittedly noticed some positive signs, an inkling of a spin in my shots and my short game is slowly improving.
When playing for points though, it all goes downhill! I start out well enough, with a frying pan grip and swinging from hell to heaven, almost losing my earlobes to the racket’s glass fiber edge in striving to generate spin. All set to hoodwink opponents with surprise drop shots, slicing the ball as the accomplished Jedi master of the court I surely must be. My serve’s trophy-posture, in my mind’s eye, instilling primal fear in the opposition. Coiled as my body is for godlike explosive power. But, after just a couple of easy baseline shots into the net, all too long drop shots, drives gone horribly, horribly, wrong and numerous serves in the net.
I revert, back to what worked in the past. Does not work anymore though, as we’ve earlier established. My opponents play faster, have a wider arsenal of shots and skills and continually adapt their game to counter my strengths and exploit my weaknesses. I, loose.
Back from the court a couple of weeks ago, after another humiliating episode of tennis disappointment, and wanting to turn my thoughts to something else I re-read an IBM study from some months back on top leaders’ views, expectations and actions in the realm of Generative AI. In the interviews they expressed their thoughts on the technology’s unbelievable pace of development and of harnessing its immense possibilities.
So here, Finally, is the connection I made between My tennis game and Generative AI! These leaders acknowledged that harnessing AI’s possibilities in their organizations and industries had a profound impact on top & bottom-line results, compliance & sustainability efforts, creation of new offerings, production, engagement with clients/partners/society — you name it. But many of them thought that their respective organizations’ commitment wasn’t as strong as it should be in leveraging Generative AI to its full potential. They weren’t, in their opinion, investing enough in truly weaving the technology into their operations and very fabrics of their organizations. Really changing their game, for real.
Just like me in my tennis they practiced and tried out the new possibilities but didn’t yet truly commit to it, when playing for points. Fearing, they too I guess, to lose because of less than full proficiency. Aghast at the possibility of losing to competition they had hitherto always bettered. Hoping that their trusted old game would maybe still suffice.
From my point of view (PoV) they and I were in the same boat with our respective conundrums, I with my tennis game, they with their Generative AI execution. And we faced the same threats:
Boy what a bleak prospect that is!
I for my part am committed to avoid this, hopefully, alternative future of my game. I’ve invested too much of my history in it to just lay down my racket and go try something else. I just have to grit my teeth and tackle these, for me, new techniques and dare use them, no matter that it will be painful for me for a really long time. I will have to bear failing with my new shots and loosing point after point after point and trust me, I will not take that lightly. I’ll lose games, sets and matches to opponents I should by all accounts win. But if I don’t evolve in my game I will not improve. I will not learn to enjoy the game again through teaching me something new and I will have no chance on the court soon.
I am pretty sure that the leaders interviewed are already full speed addressing their game as well, that is why they are leaders. As they had already several quarters ago zoomed in and acknowledged the fact that they should dare plant both feet into the Generative AI space and not hold back, they most certainly are now far ahead of me in reaching their new A game. No matter though, I’ll join them, a bit later but I will get there.
We will then both parties be at the top of our game and enjoy competing in our respective arenas, knowing that while we might not always win, we are giving it our all and that, good things come to those that Play to Win!
Have a Great Christmas Season Everyone!
#IBM #TSFM #AIagents